January 2012 - Well the New Year has arrived and we are now into the second half of the school year. We had a wonderful time in Ventura with Janey, Sharley and our new son in law Zeb at Christmas.  It was one our very best times at Christmas.  The weather was beautiful and we did lots of travelling up and down the coast getting an opportunity to see some beautiful areas.  It was sad to see Sharley go home but we were so excited to see what God is doing in her life.  She really is a very wonderful, sweet and beautiful young lady with huge ministry ahead.

We returned to Redding for another week off but attended the Prophetic Intercessor training.  Very few first year students are accepted into this as it is a very important and highly regarded ministry at Bethel.  Dayna received an invitation to join due to her prophetic gifting that God is really beginning to unfold.  This will be a huge step for her in the prophetic/prayer ministry. 

Our first Sunday back in Redding saw Bob Kilpatrick come to preach.  His message was simple but profound.  God is always here – there is no there or elsewhere!  God is an artist and is trying to make something good and beautiful out of us.  During the week we had a special session with Bill Johnson. Bill travels so much but really does miss the students and when he comes home he frequently schedules special sessions to meet with the students.  He is one of the most humble leaders I have ever met.  He always has time for any of the students.  He spoke to us about how he studies the bible. It was very interesting and how he links threads thru scripture.  He spoke about Jacob and Laban and equated it to today – what we see when we drink is what you reproduce!  Drink from the bible and you live a life in the presence of God.  He cautioned us that casual interest brings casual answers.  He cautioned us and told us that Leaders don’t need to know everything but they do need to have life in every area.  He also told us that hunger that leads to frustration is different than a hunger that leads to Faith. 

We were visited by Georgin and Winnie Banov.  It was a powerful day.  He and his wife have a church in Santa Cruz and they travel the world as missionaries.  I have never experienced a service like that.  This has been a year of first’s for both of us.  We have seen and been touched by so many of God’s current General’s.  It has made both of us angry that we have lived under the Spirit of Religion for so long and God had intended so much more for us.  It grieves us greatly that so many people live under this Spirit. 

Paul Manwaring spoke to us.  He leads Global Legacy here at Bethel.  Global Legacy looks after all the associated Churches around the world.  They also place any student after completing second year.  Paul is a brilliant man with a real passion for Christ.  He spoke to us about repentance in the opposite direction – actually turning to the glory of God as opposed to turning from something.  Who Jesus is to us is who He will be thru us.  What is beautiful to each of us?  What do I love? If you don’t love yourself – you can’t love your neighbour.  Bethel continues to teach and preach Son ship… its all about being filled with the presence of God and depositing that everyday where ever you go. 

Mark Brookes taught on the Spirit of Joy.  Joy is a feeling and when you don’t feel it you have to apply the truth.  Truth triumphs facts.  No man can take Joy from us – it came from the cross.  Joy is the antidote for trials and tough times.  It certainly gives us a different outlook on life.  Joy gives you the opportunity to diagnose life right.  When you don’t add joy to your trials it will always feel like judgement. 

Mid January, we had Randy Clark come for a Healing Conference.  We had Neil and Lucille Roy come and stay with us.  It was a wonderful time together and we love them.  They have such huge hearts for the Lord and for people and they are wonderful leaders.  Randy’s teaching was very biblical and very informative.  He has such a compassion for people.  We saw over 500 healings in three days.  He is extremely anointed and in the Office of Healer.  He did an impartation to the students and it was wonderful to be prayed over by him.  He prayed that the Holy Spirit would transfer his healing anointing to me and also he came back and prayed that I would be instrumental in bringing revival to Canada.  I had the privilege of being his security in the evening.  I watched him pray over a lady in a wheel chair.  She had atrophy of the legs and has not straightened them in years.  As he prayed over her I watched the colour come into her legs, her toes and feet.  She began to wiggle her toes, then her ankles and eventually she lifted her legs up and down stating to Randy that she can’t do that and hasn’t for years.  Randy laughed at her and showed her she actually was doing it herself.  She then eventually lifted one leg over the other.  After more prayer, he eventually straightened her legs.  It was amazing and it was an amazing opportunity to increase my faith and those around us that were watching.  We saw people healed of metal in there bodies, eyes, deaf ears hearing, shoulders being replaced, knees healed, backs and many more.  Many came forward with cancer – at one time Randy called out a number of people’s names – at the end of the evening a lady with cancer came forward and told him her name and that he had called it out.  Randy told her that she was having pain in three places in her body and pointed to them – she told him that she had three major tumours in the spots he pointed out.  Randy prayed over her and she went down and shook for a long time.  I am really interested to know how her next test will be??    After the conference we said goodbye to Neil and Lucille and wished them well on there trip and holiday to Palm Desert. 

Bill Johnson spoke to us about attracting the word/voice of the Lord.  Bill believes more than ever that the Lord is looking for the dream of his people while we are waiting for His next direction.  Sometimes we don’t ask cause disappointment is tough to walk thru.  He will give us what we ask for providing it’s what He told us to ask for (in His will).  God’s word is full of mystery because it ensures that we stay in the trust mode.  If we want revelation we need to remain child like.  A child’s heart attracts revelation as everything’s an adventure. He taught that most of what we need, will be given to us but most of what we want we will have to go after.  Bill cautioned us that what we know can keep us from knowing more if we let it get in the way.  The nature of wisdom is actually prophetic. You see beyond the obvious of a problem. He reminded us that we have been given the Holy Spirit in full measure.  All measurements are decided by each of us. There is a difference in what we have and what we have in our account.  We don’t get to do all that we want, but, we do get to do more that we are capable of (with the Holy Spirit).

Kris Vallotton spoke to the students about us as the Saints having Dominion, Glory and Sovereignty. He taught that we spend too much time trying to get things through performance, that which we already received thru creation and Jesus death of the cross.  

I will continue with January in the next post!